ARIZONA -- A semi-truck crash resulting in an explosion and fire in Arizona early Saturday morning closed all northbound Interstate 15 lanes in the Virgin River Gorge area for hours.
According to a report from St. George News, the driver lost control of the truck around 4 a.m. and crashed, taking out about 100 feet of guardrail on "bridge No. 7." With part of the trailer hanging off the side of the bridge, the fuel tanks ruptured and "created a fireball," Arizona Trooper Thomas Callister told St. George News. The driver was able to escape before the explosion.
I-15 northbound lanes between mileposts 8-23 were closed until just before 5 p.m., but the Arizona Department of Transportation says drivers should still expect significant delays due to eight miles of traffic backed up.
UPDATE: I-15 NB is now open at milepost 8/Highway 91. There is still 8 miles of backup, so drivers should continue to expect extensive delays in the area. #aztraffic https://t.co/I8XzMiKEg8
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) August 8, 2020
